RingSpotters

From Sketch to Sparkle (Part 1)

Its not often that we get to experience the process by which a man selects a ring for his beloved, but RingSpotters was lucky enough to receive detailed documentation of one man's journey to design the perfect ring for his bride to be.  We hope you enjoy this short narrative of his process. 

Early sketches...I knew I wanted some combination of diamonds and rubies...the princess cut seemed to make sense.

 

I found this on a google search and we changed the middle stone to a ruby.

   

I was originally going to have the ruby in the middle and diamonds to the sides, but received a random text in July and she changed her mind on diamonds - and loved how sparkly they are.  I immediately called to switch the combination.

   

 

 

Here's the 14k white gold. It comes in the form of little roundish nuggets, almost exactly like Nerds candy.

 

The wax is (was) inside the white cylinder in the foreground, but the insane high temperature vaporizes it, leaving a hot, empty mold. That thing with the hole in it is the crucible. The gold will be melted in that. This is also pre-heated in a kiln as well. 

 

Melting the gold with the torch. The crucible and mold are oriented sideways on this spring-wound centrifuge  When the red knob is pulled, everything spins really fast and it slings the molten metal sideways into the mold.

Melting the gold with the torch. The crucible and mold are oriented sideways on this spring-wound centrifuge, when I pull the red knob, everything spins really fast and it slings the molten metal sideways into the mold.

    

   This is what comes out of the mold, rough and ugly with bubbles and plaster dust all over it.

 

Thats all for today folks!  Tune in on Thursday to see the finished (and gorgeous!) product. We know, the suspense is killing you!

Budgeting for Your Engagement Ring & Doing What's Right for You

We love rings. Obviously. We started a blog about it. Pink diamonds, princess cut, vintage settings, three-stone rocks, micro-pave - those words are music to our ears. The engagement is the beginning of an exciting, yet challenging life-long partnership. We know how easy it is to get caught up in the fantasy and forget about that fact that with marriage comes many changes - with one of the biggest ones (and the most common cause for argument) revolving around money.

As a future bride, it is your responsibility to not only drop hints about the type of ring you want (the fun part, naturally), but also participate from a financial perspective (the hard part) because very soon, 'his' money and 'your' money will become 'our' money. It means that you first have to have a shared understanding of how much you are able and willing to spend on an engagement ring in addition to your other investments - your house, your car, your retirement etc., come up with a budget and stick to it! And if you can pay cash for it, even better.

Next step - research and educate. Know how the stone, shape, cut, clarity and color influence the price of the engagement ring and give your future fiance a few ideas. Here are a few tips if you are price conscious:

• Assuming you want a diamond, Carat size has the largest impact on price. Remember that the heavier the diamond, the rarer it is, and the more expensive it will be. You can play around with shapes and cut to give the illusion of a larger diamond, but actually pay for a smaller stone.
• Pick another stone! Emeralds, rubies, sapphires, or even moissanite rings can make for exquisite rings at a fraction of the price.
• Go vintage. Does your family have an heirloom ring? Visit an antique store, estate sale or look at jewelry auctions. You might be surprised

Finally, put everything in his hands and wait for the perfect proposal with the perfect (for you!) ring.

Blue Sapphire Ring with Baguettes and Round Brilliants

We fall in love with rings every day...but this ring makes us want to reach out, grab it, and slip it onto our own fingers. We love the dramatic contrast of the rich sapphire blue surrounded by the baguette and round brilliant accents...the colors just POP!  

Cut: Blue Sapphire Center stone surrounded by 12 baguette and 18 round brilliant diamonds

And a little special addition to today's post:  the matching earrings!  

Hearts on Fire Engagement Ring with Pave Band

RingSpotters just can't get enough of the Hearts on Fire diamonds. This particular stone looks so symmetrical you can see the explosion of light it gives off when viewed from the top. Paired with a delicate Tiffany Novo inspired band, this ring is all elegance, class, and beauty.

Cut: Hearts on Fire  Round Brilliant

Carats: 2

Setting: Tiffany inspired Novo band

Princess Cut Engagement Ring + Wedding Band

The Princess Cut is the second most popular shape for diamonds, and from today's ring, it's easy to understand why. The square shape accentuates the stone's brilliance and we love how sparkly, yet delicate the ring looks on this bride's finger!

Photo by: Amanda Samford Photography  

Cut: Princess

Setting: 14 karat white gold

Jeweler: Jared

Celebrity Engagement Ring: Mariah Carey

 

Ring Details: Mariah Carey's engagement ring from Nick Canon is a 17 Carat square emerald-cut pink center diamond, surrounded by 58 intense pink diamonds and two half-moon diamonds on each side. Estimated cos: $2.5 million

Jeweler: Jacob & Co

Round Brilliant Two-Toned Engagement Ring with Filigree Detailing

Its Friday and we are drooling over this absolutely exquisite ring.  Its the kind of ring that your eyes just can't stop looking at because it keeps on finding more and more fine details to admire - the two-toned gold hues, the split shank encrusted with princess and round diamonds, the filigree detail, the unique setting of the diamond.   This ring belongs to a bride and fellow jewelry lover who celebrated her wedding last year. Just stunning.

Photograph by Kelly Chandler 

 

Cut: Ideal Cut - Round Brilliant

Carat: 1.28, E color, VS2

Sidestone Info: Approximately 0.79 total carat weight 
.33 tw round diamonds F/G color, VS clarity
.46 tw in princess cuts F/G color, VS clarity

Jeweler: Mary Doud, Seattle Diamonds

 

Setting: two tone 18K white gold with yellow gold filigree detailing

Setting Design:   Simon G Jewelry

And for all our jewelry aficionados who are dying to know more....
Depth - 61%
Table - 55%
Crown angle - 33.8
Pavilion angle - 41
Girdle - Med to Slightly Thick, Faceted
Culet - None
Polish - Excellent
Symmetry - Excellent
Fluorescence - None
Measurements - 6.98 x 7.04 x 4.28 mm.

A Petition to Prevent Conflict Diamonds

Make a Difference: Sign Brilliant Earth's petition for Kimberly Process reform (Ringspotters has!). We want the Kimberley Process to broaden its mandate to thoroughly address human right abuses in the diamond trade. Specifically, it should incorporate worker exploitation, violence, child labor, and environmental destruction. To show their support and encourage consumer action, Brilliant Earth will donate a dollar to communities harmed by the jewelry trade for every new signature up to $10,000!

RingSpotters: A Napa Valley Wedding

 And for all you brides to be looking for color scheme ideas, here is one for inspiration from a wedding of one of our very own RS brides whose emerald cut we featured in January.  

 

 

 

 

 

 Photography: Kevin Chin / Flowers:  Pico Soriano Designs.

Round Brilliant Floral Engagement Ring

We love flowers, we love Chicago, and most of all, we love unique engagement rings! So we're absolutely thrilled about today's ring from a lovely Chicago bride-to-be who sports a center round brilliant stone that is flanked by different sized pave diamonds to create its gorgeous floral shape. We're also especially partial to knifed edge settings because its one of our own! Just beautiful!

 

 

 

 

Cut: Round Brilliant 

Carat: .5 center stone with 8 alternating sized pave diamonds surrounding it

Setting: platium, knifed edge band

Jeweler: Christopher Duquet Fine Jewelry Design